The Role Of Capsid Protein Nucleolar Localisation In Chikungunya Virus: Implications For Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,520.00
Summary
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a globally widespread mosquito-borne alphavirus capable of causing considerable human morbidity and mortality. With no CHIKV vaccine or antiviral available this proposal aims to develop a live attenuated CHIKV vaccine, rationally designed by investigating the host cell nucleolar trafficking of CHIKV capsid protein. This vaccine has the potential to provide cross-protection against additional arthritogenic alphaviruses endemic to Australia such as Ross River virus.
Mosquito-borne alphaviruses such as Ross River and chikungunya viruses cause widespread epidemics and exert extreme pressure on the public health systems of affected regions. Alphaviruses spreads to joints and triggers a severe disease in those affected. There are no effective treatments or vaccines. The project will investigate virus-host interaction at the bite site. The outcome will be new knowledge to treat infection at the mosquito bite site to prevent joint disease.
Novel Insights Into The Pathobiology Of Alphavirus Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$827,660.00
Summary
Infections with mosquito-borne viruses are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Ross River virus is endemic in parts of Australia, PNG and Pacific islands, while chikungunya virus is distributed globally and causes recurrent pandemics that involve millions of people. These viruses cause severe musculoskeletal disease for several months after infection. This project aims to establish how these viruses interact with the human host to cause disease and may provide a basis for new treatments.
Preliminary Assessment Of The Distribution And Potential Impact Of The Introduced Seastar Asterias Amurensis In Tasmanian Waters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$17,896.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Using available information assess the current and potential impact of the seastar Asterias amurensis on SE Australian fisheries, aquaculture and ecosystems
New Insights Into Viral Inflammatory Disease Mechanisms And Approaches To Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
This fellowship aims to establish how viruses cause disease, including how they evade the immune response to persist and cause disease for prolonged periods. My vision is that knowing how the virus and the immune system interact to determine disease severity will assist in devising new treatments and prevention programs to lessen the impact of viral diseases in Australia and worldwide.
Determination Of Geographical Structure Of Breeding Population In Several Species Of Commercial Fish
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Gain a basic understanding of the genetic structure of certain fish populations and the relationships between fish stocks in different areas around Australia
Fisheries Biology Of The Giant Crab Pseudocarcinas Gigas
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$312,331.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To obtain basic biological information on the giant crab across couthern Australia including reproductive cycle, size at maturity, fecundity, growth, distribution and movement 2. To determine the stock structure of the giant crab across southern Australia using allozyme electrophoresis 3. To describe the fishery for the giant crab in southern Australia and determine its relationship to southern rock lobster fisheries
Synthesis Of Existing Data On The Early Life History Of Southern Australian Finfish
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$371,905.00
Summary
Managers need to know the level of regional connectivity of fisheries resources in order to manage them both equitably and sustainably. Managers need to know where the source populations are for the fisheries that they manage, over what area they recruit and what the levels of variability in recruitment are likely to be.
There are two critical areas as well as a number of basic biological issues that this proposal addresses.
(i) Stock structure: Stock assessment and management ....Managers need to know the level of regional connectivity of fisheries resources in order to manage them both equitably and sustainably. Managers need to know where the source populations are for the fisheries that they manage, over what area they recruit and what the levels of variability in recruitment are likely to be.
There are two critical areas as well as a number of basic biological issues that this proposal addresses.
(i) Stock structure: Stock assessment and management cannot sensibly proceed without knowledge of what the structure of the stock is. Yet for 12 of the 17 species listed in the SEF strategic plan and 30 of the 38 species of southern Australian finfish listed in the 1993 BRS/FRDC funded Fisheries Resources Atlas, information on stock structure is identified as either lacking or inadequate. Some of the major determinants of stock structure are where fish spawn, how many spawning areas there are, how far and to what extent are eggs and larvae transported and mixed between regions and over what areas do fish recruit. We continue to use proxies for this information (eg genetics, morphormetrics, microchemistry) because it has previously been both difficult and expensive to look at such early life history processes directly.
(ii) Environmental variability: The biological systems with which resource managers work and the physical environment to which these systems are integrally linked are inherently variable. Physical circulation and its variability is undoubtedly a driving force for recruitment processes and the extent to which resources are connected between regions. We are continually reminded that recruitment for many fish in southern Australia is highly variable, shows links to environmental forcing and that these factors are poorly accounted for in the way we currently assess and manage our fisheries resources.
(iii) Critical basic biological parameters for wild fisheries and aquaculture: For many wild fisheries resources we still do not know where and when fish spawn, where are critical nursery areas, what are the pathways from spawning to nursery areas, what fish are suitable for fisheries independent biomass assessment via egg/larval surveys or acoustic assessment of spawning aggregations. The aquaculture sector needs to know how long the larval stage of prospective species is, how fast larvae grow, what they eat and what are their preferred temperature and salinity requirements to successfully plan and establish operations.
There is no one data set or project that will solve these issues but there is a common theme to all - early life history (ELH). It is no longer too hard to look at this area. Current studies under way at CSIRO lead by B. Bruce (ELH, recruitment dynamics and connectivity of southern rock lobster resources FRDC 96/107) and MAFRI lead by F. Neira (regional connectivity of King George whiting via larval transport FRDC 96/116) are already providing much of this information for those species.
The samples necessary for this project have already been collected - approximately 10,000 over the last 10 years representing some $7.5 MILLION in research and commercial vessel time. This is a sample set of National significance. Many hundreds of man-hours have already been spent sorting many of these samples. Two FRDC funded projects have been completed that (a) provide the tools necessary to identify larvae (FRDC 94/129) and (b) ensure the availability and safety of previously collected samples (FRDC 94/55). Considerable resources have been spent on gathering and sorting samples additional to those that were archived as part of FRDC 94/55 in further preparation for this project. Several years have been spent developing the skills required to marry the these biological data sets with ocean environment information.
The value and benefit of these initiatives will only be achieved when the data stored in these samples are collated, analysed and made accessible. These are the primary goals of this project. The results of this project will be of use to fisheries scientists, oceanographers, fisheries and coastal managers, water authorities, the EPA, aquaculture and the private sector (eg oil/gas companies) and will represent a significant advance in our understanding of the early life history of southern Australian fish and the dynamics of southern Australian fisheries resources.
This project derives its origin directly from high priority research needs identified under the SEF strategic plan, discussions with State fisheries institutions, recommended further research identified by several other FRDC projects and the development of the prerequisite skill and sample base over the last 10-15 years. Objectives: 1. To compile and analyse available information on the early life history (ELH) of southern Australian fish in order to provide supporting data for the regional management of fisheries resources, assessment of stock structure and assessment of environmental forcing of recruitment processes. 2. To examine the regional connectivity of fin fish resources via the dispersal of ELH stages 3. To produce an atlas of ELH data for southern Australian fin fish including information (by species) on larval distribution, water mass affinities, timing and location of spawning, larval age and growth, and larval dispersal patterns. Read moreRead less
Objectives: 1. Monitor die-back & spread of protozoan parasite Perkinsus. 2. Determine range of hosts; check other mollusc spp. What predisposes abalone to infection & to die? 3. Investigate seeding clean abalone in depleted areas. Predictive research.
Influence Of Water Circulation Patterns In Bass Strait On Recruitment Success And Stock Differences In Scallops
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Insight into stock relationships & recruitment success by defining conditions (spawn times, locations, weather, tides etc.) 2. Facilitating larvae dispersal between beds; in which existing beds may be self-seeding; & which transport larvae out of Bass Strait/to unsuitable areas